Irrfan had contacted Kejriwal, the Congress vice president, Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the first two had responded to the actor’s requests for audience, the prime minister’s office had asked him to follow the protocol.

But director Nishikant Kamat fails to deliver the knockout punches that could have added up to edge-of-the-seat and thought-provoking entertainment.

The film collected nearly Rs 5 crore on the opening day and is earning plenty of plaudits from movie buffs. It’s too early to predict if Kejriwal’s endorsement will contribute to Madaari’s future earnings.